Saw



June 16, 1942. w. J. FoRDoN 42,286,530

SAW

Fi1-9d 0G12. 21, 1940 m91 /3//2 /4//9 l Ill l 5 l J /UA l C 4 1,. l' "l Patented .lune 16, 1942 SAW Wiiliam J. liorclon,` Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to Rose Gringer, New York, N. Y.

Application october 21, 1940, serial No. 362,058

11 Claims.

This invention relates to devices such as tools, and has particular reference to tools having blades or the like adapted to be removably mounted and secured at any angle about an operating axis.

One object of the invention is to provide a tool of the character described having improved rotatable mounting means for holding a blade at any desired angle about its axis and with the stresses imparted to the blade in use thereof being directly assumed by the handle without intervening parts that are 4only partially supported to withstand the stresses.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tool of the nature set forth having irnproved means for mounting and removably securing a blade shank at any desired angle about the handle axis, including a single means for releasably locking the first mentioned means in a desired angular position and for simultaneously securing the blade in operative position.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a tool of the type specified having means for rotatably mounting a removable tool and for releasably locking said tool and said means in a xed position by exerting pressure as by a set screw, and the blade shank consisting of a very hard metal coordinated with the pressure means to afford a bearing seat in order to prevent the raising of a burr that would interfere with the insertion of the blade shank or the rotation .of the mounting means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tool of the class alluded to which is highly compact and rugged in construction, inexpensive in manufacture, simple and convenient in use, and so neat and conventional in appearance that a skilled workman will not be averse to adding it to his tool kit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and ar rangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation with a part removed showing a tool embodying the invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are views in different positions of the rotary clamp element removed from the handle.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a saw showing the shank in side elevation.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view .on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary end View of the tool but with the blade set at a different angle.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the Whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplication of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I0 denotes a tool embodying the invention. The same may and the opening I'I.

include any suitable handle II, which may have an elongated axial bore I2 so that the handle portion I3 forms a generally cylindrical part open at the front en'd I4.

J ournaled in the handle portion I3 is a member or means I5 which may have a plurality of sections I6 that are movable toward and away from each other and afford therebetween an opening Il such as may be adapted to receive the shank of a tool or blade I8. Preferably the member I5 is a one piece structure having a front head I9 and a generally cylindrical portion such as a stub shaft journaled in the cylinder I3 of the handle. This member I5 may also have a slot along a diametral plane, which results in the sections I6 The said slot, which may be referred to as I'I, terminates in spaced relation to the inner end portion of the member I5. Axially formed in the latter is an opening or bore 20 which extends from the inner end of the member I5 and terminates short of the head I5. Formed on the circularly continuous inner end portion of the member I5 is an annular engagement part which may be in the form of an annular recess 2|, for a purpose hereinafter described. Mounted on a section of the headv I9 is a pressure means such as a set screw 22 which extends transversely to the slot I1 and communicates with the latter. This set screw may have a head 23 and a small handle portion 24 for manipulation thereof. The head 23 may be partially received in a countersink in the head I9, to thus afford a stop for the head so that the set screw cannot pass clear through the slot I1 and exert a pressure and thus cause a burr on the opposed section I1, which might obstruct or prevent insertion of the blade into the slot I1.

When the device I is mounted in the handle II as shown in Fig. l, a set screw or rivet is applied, which engages in the recess ZI, and the handle assembly is complete and ready to receive the blade. It will be noted that the set screw 25 permits free rotation of the device I5 through an angle of 360 degrees and prevents removal of the device I5 and retains the same in a xed longitudinal position relative to the handle.

The blade or saw I 3 may have an undercut flat shank portion 2t that preferably terminates in a iiat undercut shank projection 21. In assembled position, the shank portion 26 lies in the slot I1 and within the cylinder I3 of the handle, while the projection 21 may be fitted into the opening 2l] of the device I5 as clearly shown in F'ig. 6. A portion of the blade itself may be reenforcingly received 4within the head I9 to limit lateral deiiection and hence avoid possible breakage of the blade. This part of the blade may also be considered a part 0f the shank.

In use, upon tightening the set screw 22, Vthe same bears against a at side of the blade shank, as shown in Fig. 5, and hence causes the sections I6 of the device I5 to move apart to thus expand the latter for frictionally gripping the internal surface of the cylindrical portion I3. Thus a single means and a single operation serves to clamp the blade i8 against removal and serves t0 lock the device I5 in any angular positionabout its axis. Similarly the set screw 22 releases both the device 22 and the blade. The latter is sufF ciently engaged in the handle so that if it be desired merely to change the angular setting, this can be accomplished Without removing or holding the blade in the hand.

It will be perceived that an important object of the invention is fuliilled by the device II, because there is no clamping action which would raise a burr along the internal surface of the cylinder I3 nor along the surface of the slot I1 and which might in the one case interfere with rotation of the device I5` and in the other case prevent insertion of the blade shank. It will be appreciated that the handle and its parts are made of a relatively soft metal such as brass or cold rolled steel, and hence the repeated pressure of a set screw would raise a burr therein. Since a snug i-lt is necessary to assure rigidity, the eect of the burr could not be Vovercome by a merely increased clearance. All this is avoided, without any extra expense, by the present novel structure, whereby the hardened blade steel provides a hard seat or bearing for the set screw 22. In consequence, the latter may also consist of a hard steel so that its thread may not become worn down or stripped.

Another important object of the invention is realized in that the set screw forms a single means for setting both the blade and the device I5, with the latter acting as a spring structure of generally U-shape by reason of its slot I1. Co-ordinated with the spring structure, there is a means for deforming and locking the same against rotation and for releasably locking the blade shank against removal even under'thepowerful stresses to Which a saw is subjected. A feature of the cooperation is that the blade shank is received between the arms of the U-shaped spring, with the opening between the arms form* ing a clamping seat for the blade shank.

Another object of the invention is attained in that the blade shank is received within the handle, so that stresses exerted on the blade are transmitted to the handle Without the use of intermediate parts that are only partly supported by the cylindrical portion of the handle. Thus the shank part 2B is snugly fitted in the cylinder I3 to bear directly thereon. The shank part 21 is tted in the opening 2B of a ring portion which is snugly tted in the cylinder I5. Thus the handle directly takes up the edgewise Y stresses on the blade shank. Lateral stresses are similarly assumed by the slot seat and transmitted directly to the cylinder I3. The projection 21 has the further purpose of lengthening the shank to reduce any tilting tendency of the blade shank. It will be further noted that even if the sections I5 are sprung apart, the width of the slot I1 will not be changed at its inner end so that the blade shank is tightly held, while at the outerend, the -set screw -22 holds the blade shank tight.

It may 'also be regarded as a feature'of the invention that the blade may be reliably secured by the set screw -22 even while the latter has not been tightened suiliciently to -cause the member I5 to nonrotatably engage the handle. Hence the blade cannot accidentally slip'o'uil and cause possible injury, because the operator would rst note that the member I5 Wasnot rigid and hence he would know that the set screw 22 had not been sufiiciently tensioned. This feature is desirable where the finger piece `2li is omitted, but if the latter be used it may be regarded as an indicator to show the clamping position as in Fig. l and the releasing position as in Fig. 2;

I claim:

1. A device including a handle having -a portion havinga circular elongated bore open atone end, a member journaled in said bore, said memoer being slotted from its outer end to a point spaced from its inner end to constitute the member an expansible U-shaped spring, a set screw to cause expansion of the member for clamping engagement with the wall of the bore to prevent rotation of the member in any angular position of the latter, Vsaid set screw being arranged to operate by exerting pressure between the arms of the U-shaped spring, and a flat blade shank consisting of a metal substantially harder than the metal of the said member, said blade shank being removably 'and snugly disposed 'in the slot of the member and being positioned to form a bearing surface for said set screw in causing said expansion of the member and so that the set screw clamps the blade shank to the member, whereby the set screw serves simultaneously to clamp the member against rotation and to secure the blade shank in rigid operative position, With the bearing seat afforded by the blade shank preventing the pressing out of burrs in the surface of said slot which would prevent insertion of the blade shank into the slot.

2. A device including a handle portion having a generally cylindrical bore, a generally cylindrical member rotatably mounted in the bore, said member being longitudinally split so as to form sections that are movable apart for expansionof the member to frictionally engage the internal surface of the bore, means to secure the member within the handle while permitting rotation and expansibility thereof, Ia removable blade shank snugly tted between said sections, and a set screw mounted in one of said sections and adapted to cause pressure between the sections for eX- panding the member, sai-d blade shank consisting of a metal substantially harder than that of said member and providing a bearing seat for the set screw when the latter exerts pressure between the sections, to thus prevent the set screws from raising burrs on a face of one of the sections which would obstruct insertion of the blade shank between the sections, and said set screw thus serving t secure the blade shank against removal and to simultaneously prevent angular movement of the member.

3. A device including a portion of a handle for Ia blade, said portion having a generally cylindrical bore open at one end, a rotatable means fitted in said bore comprising a plurality of sections movable apart to expand said means to frictionally grip thesaid portion and prevent rotation of the said means, a securing means on the handle portion for operatively retaining said means in the bore, said sections providing therebetween a seat for a shank of the blade, and a single means for releasably exerting pressure on the shank and for simultaneously moving said sections apart to grip said handle portion.

4. A device including a coupling for connecting a blade and a handle, including a portion having a generally cylindrical bore open at one end, a rotatable means tted in said bore comprising a plurality of sections movable apart to expand said means to frictionally grip the said portion and prevent rotation of the said means,

a securing means on the portion for operatively retaining said means in the bore, said sections providing therebetween a seat for a shank of the blade, and a set, screw extending through one of said sections and being transverse to the sections so as to bear against the blade shank between the sections to thus clamp the blade shank and cause the sections to move apart into said frictional gripping engagementl with said portion.

5. A device including a coupling for a handle and blade, including a member having a generally cylindrical bore open at one end, a rotatable means fitted in said bore comprising a plurality of sections movable apart to expand said means to irictionally grip the said member and prevent rotation of the said means, a securing means on the handle for operatively retaining said means in the bore, said sections providing therebetween a seat for a shank of the blade, said sections having confronting enlarged head portions external of said member, and a set screw transverse to the head portions and threaded through one of them to bear directly on the blade shank for clamping the latter and for expanding the rotatable means.

6. A device including a coupling for a handle and blade, including an element having a generally cylindrical bore open at one end, a rotatable means iitted in said bore comprising a plurality of sections movable apart to expand said means to frictionally grip the said element and prevent rotation of the said means, a securing means on the element for operatively retaining said means in the bore, said sections providing therebetween a seat for a shank of the blade, said sections being interconnected at their inner ends to form a U-shaped spring, and means in one of said sections for exerting pressure on the blade shank and for thus expanding the rotatable means to releasably lock the latter and the blade.

7 A device including a coupling for a handle and blade, including an element having a portion having a generally cylindrical bore, a generally cylindrical member rotatably fitted in the bore, said member having a slot extending from the outer end thereof to a point spaced from the inner end thereof to constitute the member a generally U-shaped spring, the slot being adapted to receive the shank of the blade, means at the inner end of the member engaging the latter with the element to prevent removal ofthe member, said means comprising an annular portion whereby the said member is free to rotate, and means to releasably cause flexing of the spring and bearing pressure against the blade shank within said slot to cause the blade to be gripped and the said member to be frictionally secured against rotation.

8. A device including a coupling for a handle and a blade, including an element having a portion having a generally cylindrical bore, a generally cylindrical member rotatably fitted in the bore, said member having a slot extending from the outer end thereof to a point spaced from the inner end thereof to constitute the member a generally U-shaped spring, the slot being adapted to receive the shank of the blade, means at the inner end of the member engaging the latter with the element to prevent removal of the member, said means comprising an annular portion whereby the said member is free to rotate, the inner end portion of said member having an opening, a blade shank tted in said slot and having an end portion fitted in said opening, and means to releasably cause iiexing of the member and bearing pressure on the blade shank Within the slot to cause the latte-r to be gripped and the member to be frictionally locked against rotation.

9. A device including a coupling for a handle and a blade, including an element having a portion having a generally cylindrical bore, a generally cylindrical member rotatably fitted in the bore, said member having a slot extending from the outer end thereof to a point spaced from the inner end thereof to constitute the member a generally U-shaped spring, the slot being adapted to receive the shank of the blade, means at the inner end of the member engaging the latter with the element to prevent removal of the member, said means comprising an annular portion whereby the said member is free to rotate, an elongated blade shank tted in the slot and having its opposite longitudinal edges fitted in said bore along the slot so as to engage said portion, and means to releasably cause iiexing of the member and bearing pressure on the blade shank within the slot to cause the latter to be gripped and the member to be frictionally locked against rotation.

10. A device including coupling means for mounting a saw blade on a handle for rotation -of the blade about a longitudinal axis through a complete circle and for releasably securing the blade at any angle of rotation, said means comprising a headed stub shaft having a longitudinal slot opening to receive the shank of the blade, said means comprising a sleeve having an end slot serving to directly engage the shank at any angle thereof to take up any stresses to which the saw blade is subjected in operation, said sleeve having a cylindrical portion in which the stub shaft is journaled with the head external to the sleeve, means rotatably securing the stub shaft to the-sleeve and preventing relative longitudinal movement of the stub shaft, and means for causing the stub shaft to expand at the slot opening to be releasably frictionally locked to the sleeve against rotation of the stub shaft including a portion threaded in the head for exerting a releasable pressure on the blade shank at said opening adjacent to the seat to retain the blade shank.

11. A device including a handle having a cylindrical portion open at its front end, a member journaled in said portion and having an axial head outside of said portion, said member having a diametral slot extending through `the head to a point spaced from the inner end of the member to permit resilient expansion of the member, means to rotatably engage the sai-d cylindrical portion vand the member to prevent removal Aof the latter, a blade shank having a main section seated in the slot With the longitudinal edges being in engagement with the internal surface of the cylinder, and the shank having an undercut'shank lportieri projecting into the inner end portion of the said member, and a set screw transverse to the slot and threaded through one part of the head, the set screw bearing onya Vside of the 'blade and serving thus to expand the member vinto frictional engagement with the cylindrical portion.

WILLIAM J. FORDON. 

